In all the hype and overload of ‘facts’ about the EU there seems little coverage of Climate Change and Air Pollution. Detailed lists of some of the activities and effects of EU legislation eg on Air Pollution are covered at WHAT ARE WE DOING – What is the EU Doing?.

For those who believe that our current transport, energy and agriculture choices are causing the greatest threat to humans ever, talking about trade, jobs, immigrants and even wars – but not Climate Change or Environmental implications – just seems weird.

Friends of the Earth lists the environmental topics of Beaches, Bees, Nature, Waste&Recycling, Green Energy, Air Quality and Fish, concluding that the EU has had significant beneficial effects.

What will happen on many issues if we stay IN or if we come OUT is largely speculation, but the effects of poor leadership and regulation on the causes of Climate Change are becoming increasingly clear – and many of the causes of Climate Change are also the causes of our Air Pollution.

The questions Voters need to consider are:

If we come OUT does the voter trust the UK Government to bring in legislation that would protect us better against Air Pollution, deal with Climate Change damage and make a better contribution to reducing Greenhouse Gases?

If we stay IN does the voter think that the UK and electorate could work to improve EU legislation to improve Air Quality, deal with Climate Change damage and reduce Greenhouse Gases?

Research by Ipsos MORI commissioned by UK in a Changing Europe explores the misconceptions held by UK people about the EU. For instance there are large misconceptions about the percentage of EU immigrants, the amount they receive in child benefits, the myths about EU regulations and even whether MEPs are elected. (The Economic and Social Research Council who receive most of their funding through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) commissioned the poll.)

“The authority to make law belongs to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union…… a Commission proposal only becomes an EU law when it attracts …… a majority in the Council, representing at least 55% of EU countries and 65% of the EU population, and a majority in the Parliament.”

“The Parliament is directly elected by EU citizens every five years. The Council of the European Union, sometimes called the Council of Ministers, is where representatives of all 28 member countries negotiate.”

“…the Commission has only a limited role in EU law-making. It can decide some less important rules, and in general it is the only institution that can propose new laws, but it doesn’t have the power to pass them on its own.”

“The Commission plays other roles too. It’s responsible”, along with the EU court, for ensuring that EU law is obeyed by governments and firms. In playing this role the Commission works with the member countries. It doesn’t have its own agencies in the member countries in the way that the US federal government has agencies in US states.”

“The Commission also decides oncompetition policy in Europe – for example, whether state subsidiesshould be approved, and whether mergers should go ahead.”

“It also negotiates trade deals for the EU. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the United States, known as TTIP, is being negotiated by the Commission.

Member countries, through the Council, give detailed instructions, monitor the Commission closely, and have final say on whether or not to approve any agreement.

The Commission is………………..certainly not the government of Europe.”

Full Facts contains more details and links about EU decision making as well as assessments of the truth of popular claims. And WHAT ARE WE DOING – What is the EU Doing? describes many areas where EU legislation addresses Air Pollution and Climate Change, including shortfalls and problems that need action.

But it is fair to say that UK voters affect UK laws by their votes for the UK Government every 5 years and also by their votes for MEPs for the EU Parliament. The MEPs then negotiate across all 28 EU States and arrive at slow consensus amidst pressures from their Governments and lobbyists.

Taking the EU layer away from areas such as CO2 and pollution emissions would undoubtably allow the UK Government to move quicker. But for the better or for the worse?

Posts

Bloomberg’s carbon clock has a constant countdown towards the catastrophic 450pmm concentration of CO2 and CO2 equivalent in our atmosphere. MCC shows the ‘carbon budget’ and time left to avoid global heating of 2˚C, with a much shorter time by clicking 1.5˚C scenario button.

For recent Events click here. —————————————————————————————————– The Muswell Hill Sustainability Group has an exciting programme of autumn events see here Ongoing: Free Electric Vehicle trials Wood Green businesses and residents can trial an electric vehicle (for free) for up to one week. To find out more or to book a trial contact us on 020 […]

The intentions of the leading UK political parties regarding Climate Change, Energy transition and Air Quality in their 2017 manifestos are investigated. Includes an update on 10th June on the DUP manifesto.

Leonardo Dicaprio’s film is truly scary – not in the usual horror film way, but because it truly captures the devastation already being wreaked on our world. Leonardo sets the scene with the allegory of Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights, where mankind is originally innocent, then enjoys earthly delights and then suffers in a […]

Bringing the Paris Agreement into Force at Marrakesh CLICK HERE FOR THE RUNNING TOTALS OF PARTIES THAT HAVE RATIFIED Update 5th Oct: Sufficient ratifications were received (including the overall EU) for the Paris Agreement to come into force on 4th Nov in time for the COP22 in Marrakesh. See here for UN announcement and here […]

Whilst the UK slips away from the EU efforts to protect the planet, the world continues to turn and global warming continues to go up and up, wreaking the devastation predicted. The EU has been co-ordinating pledges across the 28 members, providing grants, loans, shared research and common standards. Now the UK (and/or England, Scotland, […]

In all the hype and overload of ‘facts’ about the EU there seems little coverage of Climate Change and Air Pollution. Detailed lists of some of the activities and effects of EU legislation eg on Air Pollution are covered at WHAT ARE WE DOING – What is the EU Doing?. For those who believe that […]